From ewalker from bio.umass.edu Tue Dec 4 10:12:25 2007 From: ewalker from bio.umass.edu (Elsbeth Walker) Date: Tue Dec 4 12:24:16 2007 Subject: [Plant-biology] tenure track faculty position University of Massachusetts, Amherst Message-ID: <47556E59.5030208@bio.umass.edu> The Department of Biology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst is seeking to fill three tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant professor level. One position is in the area of Plant Metabolism. We are seeking a researcher who uses systems biology and/or functional genomic approaches to understanding plant metabolism. The area of research should be relevant to the use of plants for bioenergy, for example, carbon metabolism or biopolymer production by plants The researchers would be expected to participate in a broad multi-disciplinary initiative in Global Change Biology within the Department of Biology. This initiative bridges a group of faculty who use multiple levels of analysis to understand how rapid environmental changes are impacting populations and individual organisms, including: loss of biodiversity, rapid evolution, disruption of physiology, reduced agricultural outputs, and evolution of new pathogens. Postdoctoral experience required Applications, which should include CV, statements of research interest and teaching philosophy, and the names, addresses and e-mails of at least 3 references, should be sent to: Biology Search c/o Ms. Karen Nelson, Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. It is very important that you reference the position number to which you are applying. Positions to be filled contingent upon funding. The position numbers are as follows: * Ecological Physiology R32351 * Endocrine Disruption R32352 * Plant Metabolism R32353. Evaluation of applications will begin on December 10, 2007 and continue until the positions are filled The University of Massachusetts is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply. The Biology Department is aggressive in its efforts to hire candidates who will enhance the diversity and general balance of the faculty and the sciences. Also see the original ad in Science at: http://aaas.sciencecareers.org/texis/jobsearch/details.html?id=4741b8194a04620&qField=All&qCity=01003&qSort=date&qMatch=all&pp=20&view=1&page=1 -- Elsbeth L. Walker Associate Professor Biology Department University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003 Voice: 413 545-0861 Fax: 413 545-3243 From joanna from agrisera.com Tue Dec 4 14:56:21 2007 From: joanna from agrisera.com (Joanna Porankiewicz-Asplund (Agrisera AB)) Date: Tue Dec 4 17:39:39 2007 Subject: [Plant-biology] plant cell biology Message-ID: <41584.85.11.28.76.1196798181.squirrel@squirrel.skycom.se> Antibodies for applications in plant science have generally been available only through informal exchanges. Agrisera (www.agrisera.com/shop) has built a collection of antibodies to serve the plant & algal science community. We are collaborating with researchers and producing antibodies and assembling existing antibodies to make them more widely available. We are developing antibodies against marker proteins for plant cellular compartments and many others. LHC,PSI,PSII,Rubisco,HSP,NifH,COXII,Idh,FtsH,LOX,FeSOD,GR,GS,FtsZ,CCS, PhyA,AtpB and many, many more. Joanna Porankiewicz-Asplund, PhD Agrisera joanna@agrisera.com From laurent.laplaze from mpl.ird.fr Thu Dec 6 08:06:48 2007 From: laurent.laplaze from mpl.ird.fr (Laurent LAPLAZE) Date: Thu Dec 6 19:25:01 2007 Subject: [Plant-biology] Postdoc position in Montpellier (France) Message-ID: A two-years postdoc position is open for non-french applicants at the Laboratoire de Biochimie et Physiologie Mol?culaire des Plantes located at INRA Montpellier, France. The aim of the work is to investigate auxin transport and signalling in Arabidopsis thaliana and Casuarina glauca in relation to the regulation of root development by the nitrogen nutrition of the plant (mutation in nitrate transporter genes in A. thaliana, or formation of N2-fixing nodules in C. glauca). Highly motivated applicants with a strong publication record will be considered. The requested experimental skills include a solid background in cell and molecular biology. A good experience in protein localisation will be an advantage. Montpellier is a very attractive city of southern France, with a rich academic environment in plant sciences (several universities, many research institutions). The position has to be filled by March 2008, and the salary will be modulated according to the previous research experience of the selected candidate. For more information on the research program, please contact Dr. Alain Gojon (gojon@supagro.inra.fr). This postdoc is part of a collaborative project between four laboratories: Equipe integration (http://www.bpmp.cnrs.fr/Groupes/Int%E9gration.htm); Equipe Rhizogen?se (http://www.mpl.ird.fr/rhizo); Equipe Virtual Plants (http://www-sop.inria.fr/virtualplants); and the group of Pr. M. Bennet (CPIB, University of Nottingham, UK). Applications including detailed CV, a brief description of previous work, a list of publications and the names of at least two referees must be sent to Dr. Alain Gojon (gojon@supagro.inra.fr). References from the participants of the project: Barbier de Reuille et al 2006 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:1627-1632. De Smet et al. 2007 Development 134 : 962-973. Lucas et al. J. Exp. Bot. In press. Mu?os et al. 2004 Plant Cell 16: 2433-2447. P?ret et al. 2007 Plant Physiology 144 : 1852-1862. Remans et al. 2006 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103 : 19206-19211. -- Dr Laurent LAPLAZE Equipe Rhizogen?se UMR DIA-PC (Agro.M/INRA/IRD/UMII) Institut de Recherche pour le D?veloppement (IRD) 911, Avenue Agropolis 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5 France Tel: +33 (0)4 67 41 62 02 Fax: +33 (0)4 67 41 62 22 http://www.mpl.ird.fr/rhizo From lowell from precisionaginc.com Fri Dec 7 12:46:40 2007 From: lowell from precisionaginc.com (Lowel Zelinski) Date: Fri Dec 7 13:53:41 2007 Subject: [Plant-biology] Plant-bio question Message-ID: <002501c838f9$350129e0$9f037da0$@com> Not sure how to post a question =96 but here is one that I have been = wondering about. =20 Simply =96 Why are plants green? =20 I understand about absorption and reflection by photosynthetic pigments = but my real questions is why have plants not evolved abundant molecules that absorb green light for use in photosynthesis. I know that there are some plants that have higher levels of anthocyanins and other photosynthetic flavonoids but why don=92t most plants? =20 Also =96 If plants did make more complete use of the visible portion of = light =96 what color would they be? I am guessing more like black or darker = shades? =20 Dr. Lowell Zelinski President Precision Ag inc. 805-239-8200 O 805-286-6544 C =20 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition.=20 Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.15/1174 - Release Date: = 12/6/2007 10:11 AM =20 From kkirk from reducefarmcosts.com Thu Dec 13 07:01:11 2007 From: kkirk from reducefarmcosts.com (kkirk) Date: Thu Dec 13 13:50:15 2007 Subject: [Plant-biology] Reduce herbicide and pesticides Message-ID: <8e054bb0-7992-4601-9250-b130493dc59b@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com> Bug Off! Balancing a field's soil biology and chemistry decreases the need for chemicals by 30% to 50% because healthy, nutritionally balanced plants are more resistant to stress from drought, weeds, disease and insect attacks. Keep Your Crops from Being Eaten Alive The best way to protect your crops from being eaten alive by pests is to put them on a balanced diet. Insects and diseases are opportunists who find their hosts by "listening" for imbalance. A plant weakened by poor soil conditions puts out a frequency recognized by insects as food. An insect can't recognize the frequency of a healthy plant however, and will pass it up for an unhealthy one every time. According to one of the nation's leading biologists, Dr. Bruce Tanio, "If you balance the nutrition in the plant no insect in the world will attack that plant." Recent studies have shown that farmers who use biological fertilizer amendments to feed the soil and "allow the soil to feed the plant" routinely reduce the amount of herbicides and pesticides they apply by 10% or more per acre the first season and 30% per acre over three years -- without losing yield. In many cases, with balanced plant a yields have actually increased. Some growers have also reported reductions as high as 50%. Best regards, Kristi Kirk Oklahoma City OK ------------------------------------------------------- Reduce your input costs by 30% or more! groups.google.com/group/reducefarmcosts --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ THE REDUCE FARM COSTS TIPS GROUP -- where agricultural producers and farmers share cost-cutting tips and discuss profitable production practices proven to reduce farm inputs and costs; improve plant health and increase yields. Have a "Quick Tip?" PLEASE POST IT! Help us build a uniquely useful agriculture library. To post to this group, send email to reducefarmcosts@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/reducefarmcosts --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ From ggramig from gmail.com Mon Dec 31 16:21:26 2007 From: ggramig from gmail.com (gigi1234) Date: Tue Jan 1 11:58:53 2008 Subject: [Plant-biology] scanner for scanning seedlings Message-ID: <4591e916-c942-4a31-8787-1412dcb0d38c@i72g2000hsd.googlegroups.com> I am interested in using digital imagery to measure seedling growth (the seedlings would be in petri dishes, not soil). I don't have much cash and need to buy a scanner that can scan the petri dishes with the lids on. So I need a scanner with a transparency adapter (a top light source as well as the bottom light source). I've looked around a lot but the array of products available is kind of bewildering to me. The journal paper I am using to cite for methodology is several years old and they used an HP Scanjet 4c/t which I believe has a 600 dpi resolution. This machine is totally obsolete now but I've no clue as to what would be best. I know this is maybe a weird topic for this forum but maybe someone has experience scanning roots/plants and would be able to recommend an inexpensive scanner. Thanks!